Islamic militants denounce Musharraf for offering help to US

By Alex Spillius in Peshawar

12:01AM BST 17 Sep 2001

PAKISTAN'S president summoned political and religious leaders yesterday in an attempt to win backing for his decision to help America to pursue Osama bin Laden, as Islamic protesters burned the US flag and declared themselves ready for a holy war against the West.

The demonstration within the old walled city of Peshawar by 2,000 supporters of a radical Muslim group was an indication of the violent reaction that could greet a US attack on bin Laden's Afghan hideouts.

President Pervaiz Musharraf, an army general who seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999, met religious figures, political party bosses and newspaper editors in an effort to justify his support of America.

Pakistan has yet to spell out what assistance it will give America, but Washington has said Islamabad has promised full co-operation to earlier requests to give access to its air space, seal its 420-mile border with Afghanistan, cut fuel supplies and share intelli gence.

Some US officials have suggested Washington has also asked for US forces to be stationed in Pakistan in preparation for raids against bin Laden, who is said to be protected by a force of up to 3,000.

That option could prove fatal to Gen Musharraf's not entirely secure grip on power. He only declared himself president in June. Editorials in Pakistani newspapers have given warning of chaos and anarchy in the poverty-stricken Muslim nation, which is a base for a number of Islamic fundamentalist groups fighting in Indian-ruled Kashmir and alongside the Tali ban against their internal enemies.

A senior member of Pakistan's largest Muslim party, Jamaat-i-Islami, said it would bring hundreds of thousands of protesters on to the streets if Gen Musharraf assisted American retaliation.

"We completely oppose the idea," said Hakeem Waheed, deputy leader of the party in North West Frontier Province, where it dominates local government.

"It is such a crucial decision I trust the government will not take it in isolation and will listen to other opinions. We deplore the attack on America but we implore America to investigate thoroughly before they do anything."

One observer said the Pakistani leader would be signing his death warrant by aiding Washington. "If he co-operates I can't see him surviving," said Azmat Hayat Khan, regional specialist at Peshawar University.

"Look what happened to Anwar Sadat [after] co-operating with America. There are so many young men ready to become suicide bombers. It doesn't matter if they are Afghans, Pakistanis or Arabs, they are all fighting for the same cause."

At the demonstration, the main speaker, a senior cleric, called America the "world's biggest criminal". He pronounced his group's activists ready to "happily embrace death". Afghanistan, he said, would become a graveyard for Americans as it was for Soviet troops who invaded in 1979 and withdrew humiliated 10 years later.

The crowd of bearded young men wearing long billowing shirts and white caps punctuated the speeches with fervent cries of "Long live Osama!"

Uncompromising brands of Islam have flourished in Pakistan thanks to decades of corrupt and inept government and sustained destitution. Many Taliban leaders received their religious education in madrassas (seminaries) around Peshawar.

At one madrassa students declared themselves ready to take up arms against America and said Pakistani troops could also become targets. "To blame Osama is a plot against Muslims," said Salahuddin, a Pakistani. "Pakistan now has a choice between Muslims and non-believers. If it chooses non-believers, then we can also kill Pakistani soldiers."

At another school, a veteran of the anti-Soviet struggle sat beneath a picture of a Kalashnikov with the words underneath: "The prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him, said Heaven Lies in the Shadow of Swords."

"You must understand that Islam is a peaceful religion, but when we are attacked we must defend ourselves," he said. "The Koran says Islam is a body, and to harm one part is to harm all of it."